'Padmavati' distorts history, will not release in MP: Chouhan (Lead)

Bhopal, Nov 20 (IANS) In yet another blow to the makers of historical period drama “Padmavati”, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said that a film that “distorts history” and was “against the respect of the country’s mother Padmavatiji” would not be allowed to be screened in the state.

“If historical facts are distorted, and if anything is shown or said in the movie against the respect of the country’s mother, Padmavatiji’, then that movie cannot be allowed for release in Madhya Pradesh,” Chouhan said while addressing members of the Rajput community here at his residence.

“And I am saying this because people of the country and Madhya Pradesh cannot accept disrespect of its pride,” the BJP leader added.

“The insult will not be tolerated,” Chouhan said, eliciting a rousing applause from the audience.

He said even if the movie is passed by the Censor Board for release in the country, it won’t make it to the screens in the state.

Chouhan’s remarks came soon after he met a delegation of Rajput community members, who had gone to meet him demanding ban on the release of the movie in the state.

On Sunday, the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s historical drama “Padmavati” was “voluntarily” deferred from its scheduled date of December 1, 2017.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Sunday said that the film would not be allowed to release in the state unless its “controversial portions were removed”.

Even Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje had on Saturday written to Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani to ensure that “Padmavati” is not released without necessary changes.

The film has been mired in controversy over conjectures that it “distorts history” regarding Rajput queen Padmavati, a contention that Bhansali has repeatedly denied.

Some Hindu groups, mainly of the Rajput community, have been protesting against the movie’s release while some political outfits have demanded that its release be deferred in view of the Gujarat Assembly elections.

The makers have also not got a clearance yet from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which said the application from the makers was “incomplete”.

“Padmavati” features Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh in lead roles.